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Keeping drinks cold in a cooler - When the ice melts, is it better to add more ice to

Got into an argument with a family member over this. The water in the cooler was still ice cold. In fact, there was still some unmelted ice left. My Aunt insisted that it was better to drain the water from the cooler and then add ice. I explained that water has a higher specific heat capacity than air, and should be kept in, as long as the cooler had enough space. Because of water's higher specific heat capacity, it could absorb more heat from the environment, before increasing in temperature, than an air and ice mixture could do.

Re: Keeping drinks cold in a cooler - When the ice melts, is it better to add more ic

You are correct the ice mixed with water still stay colder than just ice. So unless you have stuff in the cooler that shouldn't be submerged in water I would leave the water. It's also a pretty well known physics trick that if you want to cool something more quickly you put it in ice mixed with water rather than just ice.

Re: Keeping drinks cold in a cooler - When the ice melts, is it better to add more ic

Air is the enemy. Always leave the water. As has been said, if it can't get wet...bag it. Otherwise rarely drain the water unless you are only doing so to make room for more ice...but always leave water.

Re: Keeping drinks cold in a cooler - When the ice melts, is it better to add more ic

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouiseCLaroche

Got into an argument with a family member over this. The water in the cooler was still ice cold. In fact, there was still some unmelted ice left. My Aunt insisted that it was better to drain the water from the cooler and then add ice. I explained that water has a higher specific heat capacity than air, and should be kept in, as long as the cooler had enough space. Because of water's higher specific heat capacity, it could absorb more heat from the environment, before increasing in temperature, than an air and ice mixture could do.

Aunt is correct.....ice is colder than water......the ice had to melt to become water......however, having water mixed with ice keeps drinks colder quicker because if completely covers whatever is in the cooler where ice doesn't totally cover items in the cooler.